• Explore practical strategies for mental wellbeing across the veterinary professions

    Mental Wellbeing and Positive Psychology for Veterinary Professionals: A Pre-emptive, Proactive and Solution-based Approach delivers a practical, hands-on guide to mental health and resilience for individual members of the veterinary professions and for those managing entire practices. Divided into 6 sections, the text offers valuable tools, including meditation, mindfulness, and positive psychology, to help readers grapple with the mental challenges presented by veterinary practice. The author has also included a series of case studies and anecdotes from her experience in counselling members of the professions, including a new-graduate vet, a specialist surgeon, and a head nurse, as they encounter issues like anxiety, compassion fatigue, fear of failure, imposter syndrome, and grief. By learning in advance about the common hurdles they will face during their careers, the reader will discover how to prepare for these in positive and proactive ways.

    Readers will also find:

    • A thorough introduction to effective strategies for dealing with the difficulties of the veterinary professions, including mindfulness, empathy, and emotional intelligence
    • Comprehensive explorations of meditation, including body scan meditation, breath meditation, imagery, and mini-meditations
    • Practical discussions of specific challenges faced by veterinary practitioners, including moral injury, client complaints, burnout, imposter syndrome, and a loss of confidence
    • Fulsome case studies, including a veterinary nurse’s journey to mental wellbeing

    Dr. Laura Woodward is well positioned to write on the topic, as both a working veterinary surgeon and an accredited counsellor and has crafted a text that is perfect for veterinarians, veterinary nurses, and practice managers. Mental Wellbeing and Positive Psychology for Veterinary Professionals will also benefit veterinary students, student veterinary nurses, and teaching staff seeking a comprehensive resource for veterinary mental health.

  • Foreword xvi

    How the Book and Ideas Were Developed xxii

    How to Use This Book xxiv

    Part 1 Strategies 1

    1 Mindfulness 3

    What Does ‘Mindfulness’ Mean? 3

    Paying Attention to the Present Moment 3

    Mindful Living 4

    Mindfulness: How to Do It 6

    An Introduction to Mindful Meditation 8

    Mindful Meditation: Paying Attention, On Purpose 9

    Mindful Meditation: Non-Judgement of Emotions 11

    The Case for Mindfulness Versus I’m Already Too Busy 14

    Mindfulness in the Veterinary Practice 17

    Mindfulness and Management 20

    2 Emotional Intelligence 21

    The Five Competencies of Emotional Intelligence 21

    Self-Awareness 23

    How Do I Become More Self-Aware? 23

    Motivation 27

    Empathy 28

    Social Skills 29

    3 Empathy 31

    The Three Types of Empathy 31

    Leadership and Empathy for Line Managers 34

    The Evidence-Based Case for Leadership: Empathic Concern Versus Empathy Alone 39

    Acceptance and Proactivity 39

    So How Do I Do It? 40

    What’s Not Helpful 40

    What Is Helpful 41

    The Empathy–Profitability Link 42

    4 Secular Buddhist Concepts 45

    Basic Elements of Secular Buddhism 45

    Reference 52

    Part 2 How to Meditate 53

    1 How to Meditate: Part 1 55

    Introduction 55

    Gain Control of Your Mind 57

    Mindful Drinking 58

    Mindful Breathing 58

    Mindful Body Scan 58

    Loving Kindness Meditation 59

    Hand-On-Heart Meditation 61

    2 How to Meditate: Part 2 63

    Observe an Emotion 63

    Anger 63

    Anxiety 65

    3 How to Meditate: Part 3 67

    4 How to Meditate: Part 4 69

    Opening Shutters Meditation 69

    The Fortress 71

    The Heavy Bucket 71

    Climbing Up the Branches of a Tree 72

    Conveyor Belt Meditation 72

    Part 3 Difficulties and Applying Strategies 75

    1 Anxiety 77

    2 Fear of Failure 80

    The Dalai Lama Advises 81

    So How Do I Stop Fearing Fear? 81

    Disputing Irrational Beliefs and Doing Our Cognitive Homework 82

    Change Your Language In Order To Change Your Thought Process 83

    Exercises for Attacking Shame 83

    Imagery and Role Play 84

    Desensitisation 84

    3 Loss of Confidence 86

    4 Perfectionism 88

    5 Imposter Syndrome 93

    Feel Like A Fraud? 93

    So What Can I Do? 94

    Recognise Your Expertise 94

    Remember What You Do Well 95

    Talk About It 95

    6 Compassion Fatigue 96

    What Are The Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue? 98

    How Do I Prevent or Recover From Compassion Fatigue? 99

    References 101

    7 Lack of Assertiveness 102

    Empathy 104

    Motivation 105

    8 Social Media and Doom Surfing 106

    How Do I Stop Doom Surfing? 108

    References 100

    9 Yearning, Striving and Wishing Things Were Different 111

    ‘Letting Go’ Of Striving 111

    What Is Striving? 111

    Blissful Happiness 113

    10 Moral Injury 116

    What Can We Do About Moral Injury? 118

    Moral Courage 119

    References 120

    11 Identity 121

    When Being a Veterinary Professional Is Your Whole Identity 121

    How Do You Know If Your Identity Has Become Enmeshed With Your Career? 122

    Start Small 122

    12 Bullying 124

    Cancel Culture 125

    How to Refrain From Punitive Actions 126

    13 Conflict And Client Complaints 127

    14 Team Dynamics 131

    Team Dynamics and Difficult Colleagues 131

    Team Dynamics and Helping Colleagues 133

    15 Depression 136

    16 Anger 138

    So, What’s Normal? 139

    Knowing How and When to Express Your Anger is a Skill Worth Developing 141

    Sleep On It 141

    17 Grief 142

    How to Grieve Mindfully 143

    Competitive Grief 144

    Comparative Grief 145

    18 The Emotional Burden of Error 147

    Guilt 147

    Fear 148

    Isolation 148

    19 Guilt 151

    I Feel Guilty 152

    What Is Guilt? 152

    Misuse of Guilt 153

    Helpful Guilt 153

    Misplaced Guilt 153

    20 When Your World Falls Apart 156

    References 161

    21 Euthanasia And Suicide 162

    References 164

    22 Chronic Pain 165

    References 167

    23 Burnout 169

    The Three Dimensions of Burnout 169

    Emotional Exhaustion (Focus, Language and Posture) 170

    Depersonalisation 172

    Disconnection from Purpose 173

    Summary of Burnout 173

    Neuroplasticity and Reversing Burnout 174

    The Evidence Base 175

    Suicide, Burnout and Chronic Stress 175

    Recognising Burnout 175

    Mindfulness and Burnout 176

    References 178

    24 Management And Mindfulness 180

    Mindfulness as an Evidence-Based Tool to Prevent Stress, Burnout and Depersonalisation 180

    So How Do We Promote Mindfulness Training In Our Practices? 183

    Reference 183

    25 Suicide in the Veterinary Professions 184

    The Neuroscience of Suicide 184

    The Perfect Storm in Vets 185

    So How Do We Increase Our Production Of Oxytocin? 186

    Understanding the Steps Towards Suicide 187

    References 188

    Part 4 Therapy 189

    1 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 191

    Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy 191

    2 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction 193

    Evidence Base for MBSR 194

    The Aims of MBSR Are As Follows 194

    References 195

    3 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 196

    4 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy And Cancer 200

    5 Animal-Assisted Therapies 202

    Communication 204

    Collaboration 205

    Respect 206

    References 206

    Part 5 Case Studies 207

    Introduction: The Counselling Process 209

    1 Ann (A New Graduate Vet) 211

    First Session 211

    Acceptance 214

    Second Session 215

    Homework 217

    Third Session 218

    Summary 220

    2 Ben (An Experienced Vet) 221

    First Session 221

    Second Session 225

    Third Session 227

    Summary 227

    3 Darren (A Specialist Vet) 229

    First Session 229

    Second Session 233

    Third Session 235

    Summary 237

    4 Claire (Head Nurse) 239

    First Session 240

    Second Session 243

    Summary 244

    Part 6 Positive Psychology 245

    1 Gratitude 247

    What Gratitude Isn’t 247

    Grateful For Nothing 248

    References 250

    2 Kindness 251

    We Can Perform Small Acts of Kindness Every Day in the Simplest of Ways 251

    How Do Random Acts of Kindness Increase our Sense of Happiness? 253

    References 253

    3 Mindful Gift Giving and Receiving 254

    How to Practise Mindful Gift Giving 255

    Mindful Receiving of Gifts 256

    4 Pride and Profitability 257

    Self-Focused Pride and Other-Focused Pride 257

    Positive Psychology 258

    Enhancing Self-Focused Pride 259

    So How Do I Notice The Mini-Victories? 259

    References 260

    5 Stubborn Optimism 261

    What Can I Do? 263

    6 Resilience 265

    Positive Emotion 267

    Engagement 267

    Relationships 267

    Meaning 268

    Accomplishments 268

    References 269

    7 Two Ways of Looking 270

    Hate 270

    8 How Mindfulness Can Improve Cardiac Health 272

    References 274

    9 Self-Compassion Versus Self-Care 275

    Mindfulness 276

    Loving Kindness towards Yourself 277

    A Sense of Common Humanity 278

    10 Being Ready For Some Good News 279

    Why We Tend to Ignore the Good Moments 280

    Three Practices to Help Us Notice the Good News 280

    11 The Use of Language 282

    Internal Monologue 282

    External Words to Self 283

    External Words to Others 283

    12 Exercise And Work–Life Balance 286

    Mindful Versus Mindless Exercise – Your Call 286

    Lacking In Motivation? Find an Exercise You Actually Like 287

    Reference 288

    13 Learning From Our Pets 289

    Lesson One – The Importance of a Good Routine 291

    Lesson Two – Feel What I Need to Feel When I Need to Feel It 291

    Lesson Three – How to Truly Be Present 292

    14 Resolutions and Intentions and Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Therapy 294

    New Year Intentions 296

    15 Postponing Mindfulness and Self-Compassion 300

    Index 000

  • Laura Woodward, MVB; CertVR; CertSAS; Dip Couns; MRCVS

    Is the Founder of a counselling and mindfulness practice for veterinary professionals based in the United Kingdom.
    She is also a surgical veterinarian at the Hampstead Village Vet Hospital in London.

Veterinary Clinics of North America
info